Maggie's Farm

The stats quoted in the article are the result of a data dredge where you begin with an opinion then dredge through all the available statistical data looking for anything that supports your opinion and rejecting anything that disagrees with your opinion.

How much body fat is the right amount? Is less than that amount "better"? Is 10 or 20% more than that amount "bad"? Or is this all a fetish?

No one would disagree that being fat/obese is bad. Looks bad, interferes with your ability to enjoy life, has a degenerative effect on your physical health. But the point made in the article was not about obesity or what most people would consider being fat.

The amount of fat most of us carry is more about our body type and genetics than anything else. Most people over the age of 35 carry a little extra fat and most of them live normal lifespans. So what is going on with the statistics that keeps bringing people back to "fat" is bad? I think it is a number of things. First gross obesity is unhealthy, but gross obesity isn't what the article is about. Second, obesity and/or simply being fat is common with diabetes and diabetes is a serious illness that often shortens a person's life. The obesity in this case is a symptom and certainly should be taken serious but the problem is the diabetes and to simply assume anyone carrying a tiny bit of extra fat is in the same statistical ballpark as a diabetic is a mistake.

So why do people continue to conflate normal body/fat variations with the more serious health problems? I think there are two reasons: 1. Good intentions. Like the parent who diligently keeps their child from consuming any sugar or candy thinking even a little sugar will kill you. 2. An obsession with health and the belief that the food you consume or the exercise you do will save you or at the least make you live longer. Gee! Wouldn't that be great! Eat super beets or something and live to 100. This idea becomes an obsession and every little thing you read that seems to confirm it only makes the obsession bigger.

So the question remains. Will being slightly overweight or carrying a little more than normal fat kill you or shorten your lifespan?

Many years ago the air force lost an EC-121 off Cape Cod. The crew survived ditching into the ocean but the frigid waters killed most of the crew. There were two or three who survived and that was because they had a lot of body fat. Undoubtedly the 5 or 6 who died in those frigid waters were in excellent shape and probably even made fun of their overweight crew members. So, tell me again how health being lean is and how unhealthy being overweight is...